X Brands (July 24, 1927 – May 8, 2000), sometimes credited as "Jay X. Brands", was an American actor of German ancestry known for his roles on various television series and in some films between 1956 and the late 1970s. His best-known recurring character is Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah ("Wolf Who Stands In Water"), the shotgun-toting American Indian on Yancy Derringer, a 1958-1959 CBS series set in post-Civil War New Orleans and starring Jock Mahoney in the title role. Early life Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Jay X Brands was the youngest of three children of Pansy H. (née Allen) and William G. Brands. By 1940 Jay had relocated with his family to Glendale, California, where his father worked as a general contractor. There the Brands lived only 11 miles (18 km) from Hollywood, and over time "X" became interested in film work, later finding employment as a stuntman as well as minor acting roles. Brands' unusual use of a lone alphabetic character as a name derives from his family's history. In the small town in Germany where his ancestors once resided, there were two men named Jan Brands. One of them adopted the middle initial "X" to distinguish himself from the other Jan. He became known as "X" Brands, and the name continued to be used by his descendants who immigrated to America. In keeping with family tradition, no Brands could use the initial until the previous "X" had died. Although X Brands was of European ancestry, his portrayals of Native Americans in film and television roles earned praise for their authenticity. Brummett Echohawk, a spokesman for the Pawnee Indians, wrote a letter to Hollywood producers in which he commended Brands for his authentic performance and his ability at speaking the tribe's language. Films During his film career, Brands invariably served as supporting characters, often in uncredited roles, performing in at least 13 films between 1956 and 1978. His most noteworthy roles are as "Hook" in Santee, starring Glenn Ford, and as "Vallejo" in the third remake of Beau Geste (1966). Television Best-known role The television series Yancy Derringer stars Jock Mahoney and consists of 34 episodes, which originally aired weekly from October 1958 through June 1959. The series' storyline is set in New Orleans just after the end of the Civil War in 1865. X Brands plays "Pahoo-Ka-Ta-Wah," a tall Pawnee Indian who carries a double-barrel shotgun and is Derringer's (Mahoney's)